7 programs eliminated, four spared at Delta College

San Joaquin Delta College trustees Tuesday agreed to cut seven academic programs while sparing four others, an effort to direct limited cash toward subjects most valuable to students.

Alex Breitler

San Joaquin Delta College trustees Tuesday agreed to cut seven academic programs while sparing four others, an effort to direct limited cash toward subjects most valuable to students.

Thousands of classes have been cut at Delta over the past several years, but this is the first time the college has whittled entire programs - albeit small ones - out of its catalog.

The programs that were eliminated - such as banking, emergency medical services and carpentry - have either struggled to attract students or have resulted in few, if any, degrees or certificates being awarded.

Those programs rely only on part-time instructors and don't cost very much. But Delta will be able to take what savings do occur and apply them to other areas.

"My main concern has been that we've got to have integrity in what we put into our catalog," said Matt Wetstein, Delta's interim vice president for instruction. "If we have programs for students in the catalog, we have to be able to offer courses."

In the end, Tuesday's cuts were relatively noncontroversial following a monthslong collaborative process in which faculty members were invited to weigh in on the proposal.

Delta President Kathy Hart praised that process Tuesday, saying, "We've been able to do some things that might otherwise have been very painful and contentious."

Acting on the advice of the administration, trustees not only cut programs but saved several others, including real estate and interior design. Faculty, students and in some cases community members had pushed back in favor of keeping those programs.

"I'm very pleased that this valuable community resource will be preserved, particularly at a time when jobs are scarce and people are looking to be retrained at midlife," he said. "That's what community colleges are supposed to do."

He said rising home prices have spurred more sales, creating demand for real estate services. And he said there is "inherent value to the community" in training agents at Delta, where one-fifth of the course content focuses on ethics in real estate.

Brian Holtz, a contractor who owns HT Home Design in Stockton, said he was glad interior design was spared. He had previously urged the board to save the program.

The action taken Tuesday recommends that the program is compressed so that students can enter and exit more quickly.

Holtz has employed both Delta students and the part-time instructor from the interior design program to help with remodels and additions.

He said there are employment opportunities for these students.

"It's huge to have employees that are versed in design concepts," Holtz said. "It's one less thing I have to worry about."